The same is true for other “mandatory reporters” of child abuse. The law says that if a minor talks about abuse or if the “mandatory reporter” suspects abuse based on other information (injuries, for example), that person must inform the police and child welfare authorities.
It’s not a question of whether the report is admissible evidence in a criminal case. One of the characteristics of child welfare law is that situations rarely result in a criminal case with the rules of evidence in effect.
I wonder if this law would apply to football coach Joe Paterno when one of his staff reported seeing another coach raping a 10 year old boy.
Paterno waited till the next day to meet with the Athletic Director, neither of which alerted the police.